Yesterday's Parade

Children as cannon fodder

 

 Yesterday’s Parade

 

That was yesterday’s parade.

 

When the trumpets filled the barren fields 

Of jaded glories.

When the drums pounded the tombstones

Into the thirsty earth.

When the cannons fell like candle sticks

From the steaming murderous mold.

 

That was yesterday’s parade.

 

When the bloody banner 

Painted the ignorant sky.

And cracked like a hot whip

In the innocent wind.

 

That was yesterday’s parade.

 

When black boots fell upon our smooth rolling sphere

Like the clapping hands of little children,

Lost in a rhythm of careless cadence,

Lost in a battle of void protracted financial purpose.

 

That was yesterday’s parade.

 

When the soldiers’ sleeping bedroom

Awakens never again

To a breakfast of swollen youthful vibrant dreams,

To a morning of expanding horizons.

 

That was yesterday’s parade.

 

Today the empty streets scream the trumpet deaf!

Today the hollow silence beats the drum bare

Of its broken brittle skin.

Today, there will be no thrill in the trill of the fife.

Today, I will take no more a human life!

 

That was yesterday’s parade.

 

© David L. Nelson 2006 Focus Fine Arts® & Ironworks Publishing.

Reviews

[A. Amos]

Today the empty streets scream the trumpet deaf!
Today the hollow silence beats the drum bare
Of its broken brittle skin.
Today, there will be no thrill in the trill of the fife.
Today, I will take no more a human life!

deep and very beautiful written, Good job my friend. Thanks for sharing

[nostal]

Nice write
Like the overall theme and execution.

[Una Xoto]

Beautiful piece. I love the pulse which runs through it. Man, I love this!

[Chad Halle]

this reads as a proclamation, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that
draws you in and urges you to read it through a megaphone

[Star-Runner]

Now this write is just plain AWESOME! I like all the facts, true to life is what I mean, Well written at least that is what I think.